i get my tonsils out on 3/26 and am nervous about the pain because everyone says it hurts more for adults than children (im 22)
Any thoughts or suggestions?

Lilly,

I was nervous too. I just had mine out Feb. 27th. I will be 27 this year.

There are alot of people who have posted about their own experiences. They were very helpful to me.

Drink, drink, drink, drink!!! Don't stop!! That is the most important thing!! It was pretty tolerable for me while I was awake. After I would wake up, man, those first few swallows were pretty painful. I would try to time my naps to the pain meds. schedule. Take pain meds, sleep, wake up, take more.

Make sure you are on time for the pain killers. Drink, drink, drink!

The one thing I wish my doctor would have told me is this: When the scab starts to fall off (for my is was at day 6) it possibly may hurt more than what I was experiencing. I was in more pain when the scab started to come off then I was after the surgery. If I knew that ahead of time, I could have prepared for it.

I still have a sore throat and use chloraseptic occassionally. But I am for the most part, back to normal.

Any other questions, let me know. If not, good luck. Hope it goes well for you!

Amy

i get my tonsils out on 3/26 and am nervous about the pain because everyone says it hurts more for adults than children (im 22)
Any thoughts or suggestions?

I had my tonsils out back in december at the age of 18. I guess it all depends on how well you tolerate pain there was some people who had theres taken out at age 32 and I had a worse time than they did.

Thank you guys for replying to me!!!
I will absolutley follow your advice.
Theres a SCAB that falls off??
Does it fall off in your mouth or do u just kind of swallow it? What does it look like?
WOuld chewing gum or sucking on candy help the pain at all?
Does it hurt so bad that you cant to anything?? Like worse than a toothache?

What about brushing your teeth?? Is it hard to open your mouth to floss?
Do you get stitches in your throat?? Did you throw up at all, and if so, what about that area??
Do you feel healthier in general after having them out (i dont mean less tonsilitis - i mean like more energy and just a better feeling overall??)
And this is probably a weird question - but did anyone ask if they could keep theirs? I know this is probably gross, but i want to dissect mine (I'm a pre-med student - not a weirdo). I don't know if they would let me because its a body part. Just seeing if anyone else asked because I don't want to look stupid if it's against the law or something.

Sorry for asking so many questions, my ENT barley went over anything with me ( he's a busy man) so Im kinda in the dark here.

I did ask if I could have mine. My ENT said he had to sent them out to pathilogy, I believe. HE!! HE!!

No stitches. Mine were cut out. The area was burned while he was cutting, cauterization. Yes, there was a huge scab. Extremely gross looking. Disturbing in a way. But I couldn't stop looking at it. HA! I kinda spit some out. But most of it, I guess I swallowed. I didn't notice it was coming off until after the fact and it burned like crazy.

It is hard to open your mouth to brush your teeth and all. Just try to do the best you can.

Chewing gum helps to work the muscles back there. I could not yawn it hurt so bad. It made my crazy!! Gum chewing has loosen it up. I still can't get a good yawn in. And sneezing hurt too!

No, I never threw up. Some people do. I can only imagine how awful that must feel. Alleycat, did you get sick?

I never had any bleeding afterwards either. I was lucky.

It's different than a toothache. At least that's how I compare the two. I had no energy to really do anything. I would be able to get my broth or a drink. But nothing strenous. I took a nap almost every day for 9 days. I was just drained. I would take a shower, and feel a little better, but when I sat down, forget it!! I was done!!

I had mine out because of tonsil stones. So I can't say I feel healthier. I just will never have to pick those things out. I still get real tired at the end of the day. Can't say if that's lingering from the surgery or from my MS. It could be both.

Your doctor really should take the time to answer your questions. But we can help. Also, before your surgery the nurses and the anestesiologist should talk with you to tell you what to expect. I was told I would have a breathing tube in an dit would be removed right as I was waking up. Some people have vaseline or tape over their eyes. I understand that can be scary if you don't know ahead of time, and try to open your eyes.

Hope that helps. Any more questions, let us know!

Amy

Just a BUMP, in case Katiebaby hasn't seen this yet!! :bouncing:

I had mine out 4 years ago at the age of 34. I spent most of my recovery propped up in bed with a glass of water in one hand and a cup of ice in the other. really didn't sleep more than 2 hours a stretch 'cuz I'd wake up with my throat feeling really really scratchy.

Watched tv, read magazines, dozed and constantly chewed ice, drank, drank drank water to keep my throat from feeling sore. The worst part was when my ears ached, which is supposedly because of dehydration 'cuz it was worse when I'd wake up.

My main fear was bleeding and dehydration 'cuz under no circumstances did I want to have to go back to the hospital and have them shove an i.v. in me. I realized shortly after surgery that I probably didn't have to worry about bleeding after I reacted to my morphine drip by hurling every where and nothing broke loose.

As far as recovery. I had my surgery in May and I think it took about two months before I didn't feel so tired, my throat wasn't as tender, things tasted normal again.

I really appreciate all of ur guys input - Thanx
So i take it i should drink alot then??
What about bad breath, did u have bad breath afterwards? I read this guys web page who said he had bad breath after.
This is so not a big deal, i dont know why im all freaked out. I just dont want to feel all gross.

I really appreciate all of ur guys input - Thanx
So i take it i should drink alot then??
What about bad breath, did u have bad breath afterwards? I read this guys web page who said he had bad breath after.
This is so not a big deal, i dont know why im all freaked out. I just dont want to feel all gross.

Beleive me you can't get around the bad breath. Not only will you have bad breath but your mouth will also taste like bad breath. Even up to about 2-3 weeks after surgery. But beleive me the end result is worth it. :wave:

I had mine taken out in 1990 when I was 20. It was done under local, so I was semi-conscious. I didn't feel any pain during the procedure, and it was very quick.

The recovery was nothing. A mild sore throat was really all I had. 2 days later, I was eating pizza.

I tell people it's like getting a tooth pulled. Absolutely nothing to worry about. Just take your pain killers and drink lots of ice water.

I had mine taken out in 1990 when I was 20. It was done under local, so I was semi-conscious. I didn't feel any pain during the procedure, and it was very quick.

The recovery was nothing. A mild sore throat was really all I had. 2 days later, I was eating pizza.

I tell people it's like getting a tooth pulled. Absolutely nothing to worry about. Just take your pain killers and drink lots of ice water.


Must be nice I was put completely under and I had a little worse of a recovery.

I had probably the best tonsillectomy ever. No problems during surgury. When I woke up in the recovery room I sat up and started talking to the nurses. In 30 minutes I was walking out the door. The second day I stopped taking the pain killers they gave me and it wasn't bad at all. I had a week off of work, but honestly i think i could have gone in anyway.
I was 23, they used a harmonic scalple (probably made the difference) and my scabs never fell off, they just sorta melted away. The pain was nowhere near what everyone told me it would be. I was eating real food in a day.
Everything was great, except the bill. :)

hi,

im having my tonsils out soon and to be honest im scared to death!! ive read stories on here of people loosing loads of weight from not eating! is it really that bad?!!

i was wondering if u could help me amy! when u leave the hospital do they give u any special pain killers to help or just leave u to it? coz when ive had tonsilitis paracetamol dont really work at all!! and like most i dont like pain hehe!!

do u feel poorly with it or do u just have a sore throat? ie do u get ear ache coz of any swelling and head aches etc?

dont worry heres my final question!! if u had the choice to go through it again, would u?

Katie

Thanks

Hi Katie!

Ask away!!!

After my surgery, I was put in a room incase I was unable to leave and had to stay the night. While I was there, the pain started to kick in. I called for the nurse and I was given liquid tylenol w/ codeine. That worked well for me. Then right before I was able to go, they gave me another dose, one for the road! They asked me if I wanted to walk out, or a wheelchair. I asked for the chair. Didn't really need it but I also didn't want to overdo it. However after 45 minutes, I got tired of waiting so I just left.

Sometime while I was in recovery, my doctor gave my husband all of my prescriptions. An antibiotic, tylenol w/ codeine, and a steriod for the swelling. I also used adult tylenol in between the stronger stuff. Yes, when the pain meds wear off, I would start to feel it in my ears.

I had my surgery on Feb. 27th. I still have a sore throat. Night is still the worse.

Funny. My husband asked me the same question about doing it again. My answer: If I were 10 years older (I am 26 now) no most likely not. HOWEVER, if someone came to me and said that if I did it again, they would take my migraines away, I would do it again in a second!!!! I know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I would give anything to get rid of migraines!!

When is your surgery? Any other questions, I would be happy to answer, if I can.

Amy

I did ask if I could have mine. My ENT said he had to sent them out to pathilogy, I believe. HE!! HE!!

No stitches. Mine were cut out. The area was burned while he was cutting, cauterization. Yes, there was a huge scab. Extremely gross looking. Disturbing in a way. But I couldn't stop looking at it. HA! I kinda spit some out. But most of it, I guess I swallowed. I didn't notice it was coming off until after the fact and it burned like crazy.

It is hard to open your mouth to brush your teeth and all. Just try to do the best you can.

Chewing gum helps to work the muscles back there. I could not yawn it hurt so bad. It made my crazy!! Gum chewing has loosen it up. I still can't get a good yawn in. And sneezing hurt too!

No, I never threw up. Some people do. I can only imagine how awful that must feel. Alleycat, did you get sick?

I never had any bleeding afterwards either. I was lucky.

It's different than a toothache. At least that's how I compare the two. I had no energy to really do anything. I would be able to get my broth or a drink. But nothing strenous. I took a nap almost every day for 9 days. I was just drained. I would take a shower, and feel a little better, but when I sat down, forget it!! I was done!!

I had mine out because of tonsil stones. So I can't say I feel healthier. I just will never have to pick those things out. I still get real tired at the end of the day. Can't say if that's lingering from the surgery or from my MS. It could be both.

Your doctor really should take the time to answer your questions. But we can help. Also, before your surgery the nurses and the anestesiologist should talk with you to tell you what to expect. I was told I would have a breathing tube in an dit would be removed right as I was waking up. Some people have vaseline or tape over their eyes. I understand that can be scary if you don't know ahead of time, and try to open your eyes.

Hope that helps. Any more questions, let us know!

Amy

I never got sick after the surgery I felt nauseated so they gave me a shot for that. I did get sick later on in the week but I think it was because I couldn't eat anything and then when i finally was able to it made me sick.